Beauty Lab: Red lipstick

There is no getting away from red lipstick - even Disney is launching its first red lipstick in association with MAC Cosmetics, to celebrate Angelina Jolie's crimson-lipped lead role in Maleficent. And from June 8-14 there's even more reason to sport scarlet lipstick : the Red Lippy Project in aid of Cervical Screening Awareness Week.

MAC Maleficent Lipstick
in True Love's Kiss, £16.50,
maccosmetics.co.uk
An unapologetic crimson for red lipstick pros - newcomers beware, the pigment is intense so colour pay-off is high. A great true blue red, in a matte finish, this works best against balmy skin and with a slick of mascara.
8/10

Illamasqua Lipstick
in Maneater
,
£18.40,
illamasqua.com
This cherry red works just as well on pale skin as it does on darker complexions thanks to a Lolita-esque cherry red pigment. A matte finish with a good creamy consistency, it also lasts well.
9/10

Topshop Lips in Rio Rio
, £8,
topshop.com
I bought this on a whim and it served me well for an evening out, only needing one reapplication. The colour is fantastic - a punchy, carnival red, which suits yellow-based skin tones. My one bugbear is that it's a little drying, but a tiny bit of lip balm underneath solves this.
7/10

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Revlon Red,
£7.49,
superdrug.com
Silky smooth to apply and a striking shade of scarlet gives Revlon's Red classic status. The staying power was impressive and the hue didn't feel too vampy for the daytime.
9/10

Nars Semi-Matte lipstick in Jungle Red
, £18.50,
narscosmetics.co.uk
Super glossy red lipstick doesn't do it for me - too Hollywood for everyday use - so this matte Nars option is a safer bet. This has fantastic staying power without drying out your lips, while Jungle Red has an orange base that turns to true cherry red, which works well with my fair skin.
8/10